The Ford-developed light bar, located just above the windshield of its autonomous vehicles, uses three different light signals to indicate it is yielding, in active driving mode, or preparing to accelerate from a stop. (Photo courtesy of Ford)

Ford, Walmart test self-driving grocery delivery service

By: The Associated Press November 14, 2018Comments Off on Ford, Walmart test self-driving grocery delivery service

Ford and Walmart are teaming up to test a self-driving grocery delivery service.

The pilot program in Florida’s Miami-Dade County will incorporate Postmates, a logistics company that operates a network of couriers, to deliver groceries and more. The vehicles will collect data on consumer preferences to help the companies understand what people want.

Ford said Wednesday that it will also look at different vehicle configurations or modifications that may be needed to accommodate orders such as perishable goods, or when a vehicle is making multiple deliveries on a single trip.

Ford will work with Walmart over the next couple months to determine what goods it can feasibly transport and figure out any issues that may need to be addressed to successfully deliver orders via self-driving vehicles.